Canon XHA1: "Families in the Park"

In the further interests of comparing the cameras in question, I thought I would create a quick post for a new video (XHA1 stock lens) that shows some of what can be achieved with the XHA1 "out of the box."

It is called Families in the Park and it is by Vancouver cinematographer Vin LeSoulier.


Vin LeSoulier - Families in the Park from Vin LeSoulier on Vimeo.

I will follow shortly with a piece specifically on XHA1 stock lens footage.

HVX: 35 mm Adapter Footage

And in the interest of being comprehensive, we'll get a chance to look at what is being done with the Panasonic HVX in combination with 35 mm adapters. As always, my caveat: Don't judge a camera or adapter too harshly if those behind it are not using it to its full potential - but don't allow yourself to be fooled into thinking that a consumer handicam is amazing simply because Steven Spielberg or James Cameron can make magic with it.

And of course, you don't always know everything about the quality of lenses people are using with their adapters...

LETUS EXTREME


Letus Extreme Test (HVX200) from Blue Tree Productions on Vimeo.


Random Shots (HVX-200 / Letus Extreme) from Martijn van der Sanden on Vimeo.


Test Letus35 Extreme and HVX from Bewegtbildarbeiter on Vimeo.


Lensbaby 3GPL / Letus35extreme / HVX-200 from Studio Nine on Vimeo.

REDROCK M2


Redrock M2 Micro + HVX200 P2 + Fujinon (M42 mound) 85mm f/2.0 from Patrick Yegor on Vimeo.


RedRock Micro M2 Adapter - 38 Water Street from Michael Hurdle on Vimeo.

BREVIS 35


Homeless Portraits from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

The above is a Philip Bloom piece. I think I've hyped his stuff enough. Suffice it to say, he'll be doing the HVX and Brevis a service by putting his eye behind them.


Coney Island/Battery Park Spring 2007 Montage from Puffin Films on Vimeo.


"Sorry4" Madison from Puffin Films on Vimeo.

P+S MINI35


HVX / Firestore / P+S mini35 Adapter Test from Benjamin Tucker on Vimeo.

HVX: Stock Lens - Footage

There has been a significant amount of interest from the readers regarding what sort of footage can be achieved with the various cameras using the stock lens.

It is true that not everyone will be purchasing and using a depth of field adapter. Even if they intend to do so, it may be some time away financially and so the use of a camera with the stock lens will be a necessity, whether temporary or permanent.

That said, it is worth taking a look at what people are achieving with the cameras out of the box. No additional $2,000 plus on adapters and 35 mm lenses.

Again, don't necessarily blame the camera if someone fatally overexposes or underexposes a shot, but also don't necessarily credit the camera if someone has an amazing eye for composition either...

Here is a glimpse at some Panasonic HVX 200 footage. Stock lens.

SHE - Mike the Swan- Music Video from Grant Baldwin on Vimeo.

ACQUEST CLIP

In the clip below, all shots not using a fisheye lens are with the stock lens. You should be able to detect the fisheye shots pretty easily.


Allston Session from RE1000 on Vimeo.


Day at the park from Jason McMurtrey on Vimeo.

Canon XHA1: Independent Feature shot with the A1

In the vein of the CRANK 2 POST, though this may not be the same marketing windfall for the Canon HDV line, I thought I would mention another feature where the Canon XHA1 is being used as the primary camera. In this case, it is the Canon combined with a Brevis adapter.

The website for the feature, with a teaser, is online.



I will note that the teaser essentially includes no audio from principal photography, only scoring and sound effects, so I am not sure what the audio setup was, nor am I sure of the results that were obtained.

However, let it not be said that I did not support independent film and help spread the word.

There is a BLOG for THE DEAD OUTSIDE (IMDB profile) and here is the OFFICIAL SITE, which includes the teaser.

This FORUM POST is also noteworthy because it includes photos of their suped-up XHA1 and some indications of how you can accessorize.

And HERE is their Myspace.

Good luck guys.

Canon XHA1: 35 mm Adapter Footage

It also seemed like a good idea, in addition to the "Best of XHA1" post, to compile some clips of the XHA1 being employed with 35 mm adapters. In addition to serving as a bit of a comparison between adapters, it will also show what level can be achieved with the XHA1. Could it be worth buying the XHA1 and spending the savings (compared to the HVX or EX1) on your filmmaking kit?

And yes, of course you should note that the artistry and filmmaking choices of those behind the camera will be a greater factor in the quality of any footage than the differences between the competing adapters.

BREVIS

Here is a clip of the XHA1 and the Brevis 35:


XH-A1 + Brevis35 - First Footage - HD from Matt E on Vimeo.

Note that the videographer added the vignetting in post.

LETUS

And here is the XHA1 working with the Letus Extreme.


Letus Extreme and Canon XHA1 - First tests from Kjewbee on Vimeo.

You gotta love that cat, even if you're a dog person.



The TAMAR - "A NEW DAY" VIDEO was also filmed with this combo.

Some more...


Story Telling using Canon XHA1 and Letus35 Extreme from Shiv Kumar on Vimeo.

And this one's for the dog people...

(Edit: The video was removed.)

And some XHA1 + Letus tests by a Japanese dude.



And this dude documented his process from opening the Letus box to having it up and running with his XHA1...


Letus Extreme out of the box from Kjewbee on Vimeo.

REDROCK M2

A music video shot with the XHA1 and the Redrock M2:


Music Video: Heaven In My Heart from Paul Zadie on Vimeo.

And Marlon Torres is back with BROOMMATE, courtesy of the XHA1 / M2 tandem.

And a dude's test of the same two pieces of gear...



And again...



RNG 35

And the XHA1 with the RNG 35 Adapter...


Canon XHA1 + RNG35 35mm adapter from RNG35 on Vimeo.

SGPRO


Test with 35mm adapter SGPro Rev.3 from Luca Ghione on Vimeo.

FURTHER READING...

If you are interested in further dicussion on the topics of adapters in conjunction with the XHA1, here, for example, is a FORUM DISCUSSION on the XHA1 and a Letus / Brevis setup.

Canon XHA1: The Primary Camera for Crank 2

Just when you thought I was ignoring the Canon XHA1 in the whole camera analysis, I thought I'd bring up a piece of (relatively recent) news. It is somewhat out of the ordinary, but word on the street is that Crank 2 (starring Jason Statham and Amy Smart) is being filmed primarily with the Canon XHA1 and its little brother, the sub-$1,000 Canon HF10.



Apparently this is because they are planning on having many, many cameras rolling at once for the action sequences and the XHA1 is known for providing great bang-for-the-buck. Well, even the serious Hollywood players are homing in on that value.

Below are a couple articles on the topic:

COLLIDER STORY

SLASHFILM STORY

SONY EX1: Inside a Helicopter - Footage

Thanks to the BLOG OF STEVE CAHILL, the HD video community is being treated to a documentary / news-style piece on paramedics who operate out of a helicopter.

What does that mean?

That means we get to see how the Sony EX1 operates in a helicopter, and this is a relatively important piece of footage.

I was considering just revising the Sony EX1 Rolling Shutter Footage entry, but found this clip to deserve a post of its own because it represents the use of the EX1 and its rolling shutter in an extreme vibration environment, the very type of setting that will, if any, cause the shutter to show its warts.

So take a look at the STEVE CAHILL HELICOPTER CLIP and keep an eye out for rolling shutter artifacts, jellocam, and so on. For some, this clip may be what finally sells them once and for all on the virtues and versatility of the EX1. For others, it may be what ultimately confirms the limitations of the shutter (as extreme a filming environment as this may be).

As a side note, he uses the Letus Extreme to get a shallow depth of field for his interview pieces.

And to this we add more EX1 Chopper clips:

ALASKAN HELICOPTER TRIP - HANDHELD

And...

**Addendum: Unfortunately the clip "Playmate, Speedboat and Bono" by Brett Clements was deleted by the producer. It did, however, show some of the limitations associated with rolling shutter image capture.**

The above clip is nicely shot but includes a professional Bono lookalike who...looks very little like Bono. You could put a black suit and The Fly glasses on, I dunno, Snoop Dogg and get about the same resemblance.